The scene is a hotel room in Paris. The year 1960. The star, Orson Welles. A vintage interview captures the artist reflecting on Citizen Kane and expounding on directing, acting, writing and his desire to bestow a valuable... more &raquo legacy upon his profession. This is a pearl of cinematic memorabilia.

Orson Welles is interviewed in his Paris hotel by Bernard Braden. He discusses his career, his interest in politics, critics, his work on second-rate films in order to pay for productions he really wanted to do, his lack of a home town, and his desire to live in Spain.

In the interview, Welles discusses the advantage to an actor of having a good voice, the impossibility of acting the epileptic fit scene in OTHELLO, the lack of a sense of 'period' among American actors, directing himself in films, the part of Harry Lyme in THE THIRD MAN, MONSIEUR VERDOUX, which he wrote for Charlie Chaplin and would have liked to have directed, actors forming their own companies, employing friends and regretting it, CITIZEN KANE, the technical achievement and Gregg Toland's genius as a cameraman, wanting to do something which would leave the profession better for having done it, and television as an inferior form of entertainment.&laquo less

Movie Reviews

"Liked the interview very much. It was like having Orson Welles in front of you when he was in his forties, still not too heavy and his voice vibrant. You could see he was being frank & honest."

Waving His Magic Cigar

James Keller | Pittsburg, CA. USA | 07/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here in an all too short face to face interview with a not very astute interviewer, Orson dressed in black, casts his spell in a chair in his Paris hotel room, with just a cup of coffee and a cigar as magic props. A pity it couldn't have been a four course meal in a Paris restaurant or better in one of his favorite haunts in Spain. But be grateful that the interview survives. When the interviewer criticises the voices of Gielgud and Olivier, Orson the bass/baritone leaps to the defence of the two actor with tenor ranges. A must-keep for Welles fans."

Orson Welles At His Best

William E. Bradley | Miami, Fl USA | 08/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have seen many reviews with Orson Welles. The best I have seen, is the interview with Dick Cavett, most entertaining. The Paris interview is definitely the most candid and down to earth. This interview comes across like a conversation with a dear friend. Where there were many questions in my mind about Orson Welles and his beliefs, this interview goes right to filling in my gaps and deepens my appreciation of the man. Have you ever met someone and had a conversation that you wished would never end. ? This is what hearing Orson Welles speak does to me, it reminds me of those conversations. I have watched this interview three times and I will watch it many more. An Orson Welles fan or not, you will enjoy this interview."